With the start of heavy attacks against the Security Forces particularly Manipur Police Commandos in Indo-Myanmar border town Moreh of Manipur since December 30, the Kuki-Zomi miltants are now intensifying their target against Meitei civilians.
Briefing the media at the CM Secretariat in Imphal, Manipur Government’s Security Advisor, Kuldiep Singh, expressed serious concerns over the increasingly active role of Kuki militants in targeting innocent civilians and security forces across the state.
The Security Advisor revealed that a recent incident occurred in the Bishnupur area, where Kuki militants attacked three workers near Naga village, leaving them seriously injured. Despite heightened activities, security forces are on high alert and efforts are underway to tackle the situation.
Five people belonging to the Meitei community were killed in two separate incidents of firing in Manipur on January 18, a day after two police personnel were killed in an attack by Kuki-Zomi militants in border town Moreh along the Indo-Myanmar border on January 17.
On January 17, one Manipur Police Commando was killed when Kuki-Zomi militants attacked a Security Forces vehicle in the border town of Moreh in Tengnoupal District of Manipur. The deceased was identified as Wangkhem Somorjit, 32, an Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) trooper, attached to Manipur Police Commando in Moreh was hit reportedly by snipper bullets near Ima Kondong Lairembi Devi temple in the morning. He later succumbed to injuries during treatment at Key Location Point (KLP) of Assam Rifles in Moreh.
Since the morning on January 17, the Manipur Police Commandos were attacked by the Kuki-Zomi militants in three different locations in Moreh town of Tengnoupal District of Manipur along Indo-Myanmar border. According to reports, the militants hurled bombs and fired at a post of Securoty Forces near SBI Moreh. The militants also fired rocket-propelled grenades (RPG) shells at the temporary commando post damaging several vehicles parked in the vicinity. The exchange of fire between the Manipur Police Commandos and the Kuki-Zomi militants in Moreh town of Manipur continued for hours and the death toll reached to two after one more policeman was shot on January 17 evening and injured other personnel. The deceased was identified as Havildar Takhellambam Saileshwore of 10 IRB from Lamshang in Imphal West district.
Six injured police personnel in the heavy attack by Kuki-Zomi militants are riflemen Md. Kamal Hassan, Songsuathui Aimol and Md. Abdul Hasim of 3rd IRB, constable Ngasepam Vim of 8th IRB (special commando), assistant sub-inspector Sidarth Thokchom of 8th IRB (special commando) and rifleman K, Premananda of 1st IRB (Special Commando).
Even as the personnel of the State Security Forces were facing heavy fire from different directions, a convoy of the Assam Rifles including a Casspir vehicle which were coming towards the site of the incident were forced to make a U-turn at gunpoint by the armed Kuki-Zomi militants, according to reports citing a video clip which has gone viral in social media.
Notably, the Kuki-Zomi militants heavily attacked on the Manipur Police Commando in Moreh against the arrest of two main accused identified as Philip Khaikholal Khongsai and Hemkholal Mate, in the killing of Moreh Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Chingtham Anandkumar on October 31, 2023, from near the Moreh College in the Indo-Myanmar border Town of Moreh in Tengnoupal District of Manipur, along with arm, ammunition and explosive on January 15.
The ambush was reported near Ima Kondong Lairembi Devi temple in Moreh when militants fired a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) at a temporary police units and commando posts. Militant attacks were also reported Ward No. 7 and Chikim village in Moreh.
Moreover, on January 18, Manipur Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh told the media that before Wednesday’s (January 17) attack on the police personnel in Moreh town, on the border with Myanmar, an intelligence report had suggested that there is a possibility of the involvement of Myanmar’s People’s Defence Force (PDF) insurgents and some “reinforcement from Burma”, could attack security forces. However, he said there was still no evidence regarding the involvement of foreign parties in the incident.
About the January 17 attack in Moreh, the Security Advisor said, “Since yesterday (January 17) morning, a large number of Kuki militants started firing at police commandos in three locations in Moreh – Rich Hotel, GM Hotel and SBI.
Addressing the media in Imphal on Thursday (January 18) evening, he added that intelligence had been gathered following threats by Kuki groups that Manipur police commandos stationed in Moreh would be targeted.
“Intelligence was there from a few days, because Kuki Inpi and the CSOs (civil society organisations) and so many other people were coming to the security locations in Moreh and they were saying that the CDOs (commandos) should be removed from there. If CDOs are not moved, the CDOs would be targeted, (the groups said),” he said.
“The intelligence agencies also tried to find out what kind of attack they were planning. It was found that nearby volunteers and some miscreants, even from across (the border), may join them to attack the SF (security forces). Because of that, all kinds of steps were taken… In spite of that, they could come near…,” he added.
He said that militants enhanced their activities in the area after two people suspected in the October 31 killing of Manipur Police Officer Chingtham Anandkumar were arrested from there earlier this month.
Besides the start of heavy attacks on the Manipur Police Commandos in the border town Moreh since December 30 last year, the Kuki-Zomi militants have intesified their attacks on the Meitei villages including burning down of houses in the peripheris of the Imphal Valley from the surrounding mountains. They attacked in the villages of Tumukhong, Mapithel, Sabungkhok Khunou, Sinam, Leimakhong, Koutruk, Kadangband and Irengbam in the last three/four days.
Earlier, the Kuki-Zomi militants killed four villagers who had gone missing since January 10 when they went to collect firewood from the nearby hill Kumbi Haotak of Bishnupur district bordering Churachandpur district. They also sent out a video in the evening on January 10, claiming to have taken the missing villagers captive and killed all four.
Three of the missing villagers – Oinam Romen Meitei, 45; Thoudam Ibomcha Meitei, 53; and his son, Thoudam Anand Meitei, 27 – were found shot dead on January 11 at Wangoo Sabal Meichakpi Ching, close to a Mahar Regiment military post.
The fourth person, Ahanthem Dara Meitei, 56 who had gone mising since January 10 was found in the Wangoo Sabal area of Manipur’s Bishnupur district on January 13.
Furthermore, on January 18, four Meitei civilians including a father-son duo, were shot dead by Kuki-Zomi militants at Ningthoukhong Kha Khunou in Bishnupur District of Manipur. The father-son duo was identified as Oinam Bamonjao, 63 and Oinam Manitomba, 37 while the other two victims were identified as Thiyam Somendro, 53 and Ningthoujam Nabadeep.
In the first 18 days of the New Year 2024, the Kuki-Zomi militants have killed altogether 11 Meiteis. With the killings of Ningthoukha Kha-Khunou, Kuki-Zomi miltants have killed eight innocent Meitei civilians all from Bishnupur district who are neither security personnel nor village defence volunteer besides two commando personnel killed in Moreh and one village volunteer Takhelambam Manoranjan, 23 from Thiyam Konjil village at Kangchup in Imphal West bordering Kangpokpi in the evening on January 17.
Unfortunately, given the recent surge in violence, the Kuki-Zomi militants have intensified their attacks against the Meitei innocent civilians besides Manipur State Police.
Senior Editor: Imphal Review of Arts and Politics
